Benjamin Chambers Brown Vintage Antique Original California Plein Air Impressionist Fine Art Oil Painting of San Gabriel Mission
Benjamin Chambers Brown Vintage Antique Original California Plein Air Impressionist Fine Art Oil Painting of San Gabriel Mission
Benjamin Chambers Brown, (1865-1942), original, vintage, early 20th century California Plein Air impressionism painting of the San Gabriel Mission, in the Los Angeles, California area. The artist has a cataloged watercolor study of this painting, as well, listed at invaluable.com.
https://www.bradfordsauction.com/auction-lot/benjamin-c.-brown-san-gabriel-mission-watercolor_06A4F09B3F
(The last image of this listing is this comparison painting/early watercolor study of the San Gabriel Mission by Benjamin Chambers Brown, sold by Bradford Auctions, for reference).
Benjamin Chambers Brown, born on July 14, 1865, was a renowned landscape artist known for his contributions to California Impressionism. His preferred mediums included oil painting, lithography, and etching.
Early Life and Education: Born in Marion, Arkansas, Benjamin was the child of Judge Benjamin Chambers Brown and Mary Broker Brown. He grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, where his parents aspired for him to become a lawyer. However, Benjamin pursued training in photography instead. He attended the University of Tennessee and later studied at the St. Louis School of Fine Arts under the tutelage of Paul E. Harney and John Hemming Fry in 1884. Seeking further education, he traveled to Paris in 1890 and studied at the Académie Julian under Jean-Paul Laurens and Jean-Joseph Benjamin-Constant.
Career: During the early years of his career, Brown traveled and worked in St. Louis, Little Rock, and Texas. In St. Louis, he taught at the St. Louis School of Fine Arts, his alma mater, and later established his own school in Little Rock. Initially specializing in portraiture and still life, he shifted his focus to landscape painting after relocating to Pasadena in 1896. His first exhibition in Pasadena was hosted by John Bentz at the Hotel Green. Although he did not sell any artwork until around 1900, he gained significant recognition by 1905 for his paintings of poppies. From 1909 to 1910, he operated a studio in Mill Valley, California, and frequently held exhibitions in northern California and the San Francisco area. In 1914, Brown ventured into etching and co-founded the Print Makers of Los Angeles with his brother Howell Chambers Brown, which later evolved into the Los Angeles Society of Printmakers. His notable works include impressionist landscapes featuring Sierra peaks and field poppies. Due to the high demand for his art, he often sent out lantern slides instead of paintings.
Brown attempted to sell his artwork in New York City but found that it did not sell as well as it did in California. To proudly emphasize his identity as a Californian, despite potential stigmas, he began signing his works with "California" under his signature. Brown was a member of various art societies and associations, including the Pasadena Society of Artists, the California Art Club, the Chicago Society of Etchers, the American Federation of the Arts, and the Laguna Beach Art Association. His work was exhibited at prestigious venues such as the Del Monte Art Gallery, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Oakland Art Gallery. His artistic contributions were also recognized in the art competition at the 1932 Summer Olympics.
Awards and Legacy: Throughout his career, Brown received numerous awards and accolades. Notably, he was awarded the bronze medal at the Portland Expo in 1905 and a bronze medal in etching at the Panama Pacific International Exposition in San Diego in 1915. His works are held in esteemed institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, the Library of Congress, the Oakland Museum of California, the Los Angeles Municipal Art Collection, the Montclair Museum in New Jersey, the Cleveland Museum in Ohio, and the Boise Public Library in Idaho. Benjamin Chambers Brown is remembered as one of the pioneering artists to paint in Pasadena. His health declined in later years, and he passed away on January 19, 1942, in Pasadena due to pneumonia.
Benjamin Chambers Brown, born on July 14, 1865, was a renowned landscape artist known for his contributions to California Impressionism. His preferred mediums included oil painting, lithography, and etching.
Early Life and Education: Born in Marion, Arkansas, Benjamin was the child of Judge Benjamin Chambers Brown and Mary Broker Brown. He grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, where his parents aspired for him to become a lawyer. However, Benjamin pursued training in photography instead. He attended the University of Tennessee and later studied at the St. Louis School of Fine Arts under the tutelage of Paul E. Harney and John Hemming Fry in 1884. Seeking further education, he traveled to Paris in 1890 and studied at the Académie Julian under Jean-Paul Laurens and Jean-Joseph Benjamin-Constant.
Career: During the early years of his career, Brown traveled and worked in St. Louis, Little Rock, and Texas. In St. Louis, he taught at the St. Louis School of Fine Arts, his alma mater, and later established his own school in Little Rock. Initially specializing in portraiture and still life, he shifted his focus to landscape painting after relocating to Pasadena in 1896. His first exhibition in Pasadena was hosted by John Bentz at the Hotel Green. Although he did not sell any artwork until around 1900, he gained significant recognition by 1905 for his paintings of poppies. From 1909 to 1910, he operated a studio in Mill Valley, California, and frequently held exhibitions in northern California and the San Francisco area. In 1914, Brown ventured into etching and co-founded the Print Makers of Los Angeles with his brother Howell Chambers Brown, which later evolved into the Los Angeles Society of Printmakers. His notable works include impressionist landscapes featuring Sierra peaks and field poppies. Due to the high demand for his art, he often sent out lantern slides instead of paintings.
Brown attempted to sell his artwork in New York City but found that it did not sell as well as it did in California. To proudly emphasize his identity as a Californian, despite potential stigmas, he began signing his works with "California" under his signature. Brown was a member of various art societies and associations, including the Pasadena Society of Artists, the California Art Club, the Chicago Society of Etchers, the American Federation of the Arts, and the Laguna Beach Art Association. His work was exhibited at prestigious venues such as the Del Monte Art Gallery, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Oakland Art Gallery. His artistic contributions were also recognized in the art competition at the 1932 Summer Olympics.
Awards and Legacy: Throughout his career, Brown received numerous awards and accolades. Notably, he was awarded the bronze medal at the Portland Expo in 1905 and a bronze medal in etching at the Panama Pacific International Exposition in San Diego in 1915. His works are held in esteemed institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, the Library of Congress, the Oakland Museum of California, the Los Angeles Municipal Art Collection, the Montclair Museum in New Jersey, the Cleveland Museum in Ohio, and the Boise Public Library in Idaho. Benjamin Chambers Brown is remembered as one of the pioneering artists to paint in Pasadena. His health declined in later years, and he passed away on January 19, 1942, in Pasadena due to pneumonia.
Benjamin Chambers Brown
(1865-1942)
California Plein Air Impressionism Painting
San Gabriel MissionApprox. 1915-1925
Oil on Academy Board
Approx. 1915-1916
A partial signature is visible in the foliage, lower left; ("CHAMB" visible)
Painting alone measures approximately 9.5"X12.3", Plus Frame.
The painting is in very good to excellent condition. All paint is original. No overpaints, or restoration.
The original antique California Plein Air frame has been refurbished, and is in very good condition, as well.
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